Coaxial cable connector

ABSTRACT

A coaxial cable connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of the cable to the connector. A radially deformable inner conductor seizing member is formed on an insulating member which can be locked to the inner conductor of the cable by application of an axial force to the seizing member. The seizing member may contain a metallic bushing positioned within the insulating member and threaded so as to secure the bushing to the inner conductor. Further, a grounding spring member for preventing radio frequency leakage from the connector member can be mounted in the connector housing. The grounding spring member may contain a plurality of spring fingers biased inwardly toward the outer conductor.

United States Patent [191 Blanchenot 1 July 3,1973

[ COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR [75] Inventor: John Philip Blanchenot, Ontario,

Canada [22] Filed: Oct. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 193,608

[52] U.S. Cl. 339/177 R, 339/103 R [51] Int. Cl H01r 17/04 [58] Field of Search 174/75 C, 88 C, 89;

339/14, 60 C, 89 C, 90 C, 91 P, 94 C, 103, 126 S, 177 R, 177 E 2/1955 Great Britain 339/177 R 6/1967 Germany 339/177 R Primary Examiiter-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examinerl awrencs l. Staa b D Attorney tif'tfdmen Remsen, Jr, Thomasfi. Kristofferson et a1. V

[5 7] ABSTRACT A coaxial cable connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of the cable to the connector. A radially deformable inner conductor seizing member is formed on an insulating member which can be locked to the inner conductor of the cable by application of an axial force to the seizing member. The seizing member may contain a metallic bushing positioned within the insulating member and threaded so as to secure the bushing to the inner conductor. Further, a grounding spring member for preventing radio frequency leakage from the connector member can be mounted in the connector housing. The grounding spring member may contain a plurality of spring fingers biased inwardly toward the outer conductor.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR The invention relates in general to coaxial cable connectors and, more particularly, to an improved electrical connector which is readily secured to the center and outer conductors of a coaxial cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In US. patent application Ser. No. 84,792, filed Oct. 28, 1970, there is depicted a coaxial cable connector which is used to secure the inner and outer conductors of a coaxial cable. The connector housing has a radially deformable inner conductor seizing member and a radially deformable outer conductor seizing member. A radially deformable contact member interconnects the inner conductor seizing member and the outer conductor seizing member. Means are provided for applying an axial force to the seizing members which causes the inner and outer seizing member to simultaneously contract radially and causing the contact member to expand. Thus, a direct electrical connection is made be tween the inner conductor of the coaxial line and the contact member, as well as the outer conductor of the coaxial line and the outer conductor of the seizing member.

It has been found that when the inner conductor seizing member is secured to the contact member, in turn, securing the inner conductor to the contact member, that a good seizure between the contact member and the inner conductor may not occur. Thus, it is possible for full electrical contact not to occur between the inner conductor and the contact member. Moreover, it has been found that even though the outer conductor seizing member is secured to the outer conductor of the coaxial line, that radiation will occur in certain instances. Further, over a period of time it has been found that the aluminum outer sheath of which the outer conductor seizing member is normally made of will weaken.

In order to overcome the attendant disadvantages of prior art coaxial cable connectors, the present invention incorporates a mechanical connection which is formed as part of the inner conductor seizing member. When the inner seizing member is radially deformed, the mechanical connection is made directly to the inner conductor of the coaxial line. Electrical connection is provided to the inner conductor by means of contact containing spring fingers. Further, the connector is provided with a spring loaded member which provides a spring loaded grounding connection to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable. Thus, should the original clamp sleeve relax due to the aluminum jacket taking a set over a period of time, the spring loaded grounding member will provide sufficient electrical contact to the outer conductor. Moreover, the spring loaded grounding connection prevents excessive radiation from occurring from the connector.

The advantages of the invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like referenced numerals designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an assembled view partly in section of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 prior to securing a cable to the connector; and

FIG. 3 shows the connector of FIGS. 1 and 2, with a cable fully secured thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the electrical connector made in accordance with the principles of the invention. The connector 12 is formed of a main housing portion 14 and a front body 16.

The front body 16 has external threads 18 at its front end which terminate at a forward facing shoulder 22, and an O-ring 24 is mounted, abutting the forward facing shoulder 22. The front end of the front body further contains an insulator member 26 mounted internally of the body with the front surface thereof flush with the front surface of the body 16. Mounted within the insulator is a feed-through contact 28 having a male contacting portion 32 extending forwardly of the body, and a rear socket contact portion 34 positioned within the body 16 in a rear cavity thereof. The socket portion 34 is split as at 36 to form contacting fingers 38.

The rear end of the front body 16 is internally threaded as at 42 for mating with the external threads 44 formed on the front external surface of the main housing 14. An O-ring 46 is positioned on the external surface of the front end of the housing 14 so as to form a seal between the housing 14 and the front body 16.

The main housing 14 contains a reduced diameter forward bore portion 52 and an enlarged diameter rear bore portion 54. interconnecting the two bore portions 52 and 54 is a forwardly tapered bore portion 56. The rear end of the bore portion 54 may be threaded as at 58.

Mounted within the housing 14 in the vicinity of the tapered bore portion 56 is a collet wedge assembly 62. The wedge assembly is formed of a reduced diameter forward bore portion 64 and an enlarged diameter rear bore portion 66. The junction of the two bore portions contains a ehamfered surface 68. Further, the junction of the ehamfered surface 68 and the rear bore portion 66 defines a rearward facing shoulder 72. The rear external surface of the assembly 62 is cylindrical as at 74. Further, the assembly outer surface contains a tapered portion ,76 extending forwardly at a slightly greater angle than the bore portion 56.

Mounted within the reduced diameter bore portion 64 is a brass bushing 82. The bushing contains a central bore 84 which is threaded, and wedge-locks 86, which lock the bushing 82 in the assembly 62. Normally, the assembly 62 is moulded around the bushing 84 and may be made of Delrin. After the assembly is moulded around the Delrin, the bushing is split, forming a slot 88 on one side of the assembly.

Abutting the rear surface 92 of the assembly 62 is a bushing 94 having an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the bore 54. The internal surface of the bushing 94 contains a front bore portion 96 and a rear bore portion 98 which flares rearwardly from the front bore portion 96. Further, the bushing is split as at 102.

Rearward of the bushing 94 is a cable sleeve locking member 104 which is also split as at 106. The locking member 104 is internally threaded at 108 and contains a rear outer cylindrical surface 112. Forward of the cylindrical surface 112 is a front inward tapered outer surface 114 which mates with the rear bore portion 98 of the bushing 94.

To the rear of the locking sleeve 104 is a compression seal housing bushing 122. The bushing contains a reduced diameter forward bore portion 124 and an enlarged diameter rear bore portion 126 with the junction of the bore portions 124 and 126 defining a rearward facing shoulder 128. Further, the front surface 132 of the bushing abuts the rear surface of the locking memher 104. A keyway 134 is formed on the outer surface of the bushing and engages dimpled key 136 formed on the bore surface 54 of the main housing to prevent rotation of the bushing 122.

An annular rubber compression member 142 is positioned in the bushing 122 and contains an outer surface 144 which is approximately equal to the bore surface 126 of the bushing 122, and an inner surface 146 which is equal in diameter to the bore portion 124. Further, the compression member 142 extends slightly rearwardly of the bushing 122 during initial assembly.

Rearward of the compression member 142 is a grounding member 152. The grounding member 152 contains an inner bore surface 154 equal to the bore portion 124 and the inner surface 146 of the annular member 142. The grounding member 152 contains a front surface 156 which abuts the rear surface of the compression member 142. The grounding sleeve further contains a pair of outwardly extending flange members 158 and 162 which terminate at the threaded portion 58 of the housing member. Mounted between the flange members is an O-ring seal 164 which provides an effective seal at the rear end of the housing 14. Rearward of the flange 158, the grounding member 152 comprises a plurality of split sleeve mernbers 166 which are separated from each other by rearwardly opening slots 168. Mounted on a depressed portion 172 of the outer surface of the slit sleeve members 166 is a contracting spring 174 which causes the spring members to bend inwardly.

A lock nut 182 contains an enlarged rear portion 184 which allows gripping thereof, and a reduced diameter front surface 186 which is threaded at its front end 188. The threads 188 mate within threads 58 of the main housing. The lock nut contains a reduced diameter rear bore portion 192 and an enlarged diameter front bore portion 194, with the junctions of the bore portions 192 and 194 forming a forward facing shoulder 196. The diameter of the rear bore portion is equal to the diameter of the bore portion 124 and the inner diameter of the annular compression member 142.

An annular sealing bushing 198 has an inner surface 202, equal to the diameter of the lock nut bore portion 192 and, an outer diameter 204 abutting the bore surface 194 of the lock nut. Further, the rear end 206 of the sealing bushing abuts the forward facing shoulder 196 of the lock nut. The front surface 208 of the sealing bushing abuts the rear surface of the sleeve members 166.

An electrical conductor 212 comprises an inner conductor 214 which extends forwardly of a central dielectrical member 216 which, in turn, is surrounded by an outer conductor 218 which forms a ground shield for the inner conductor 214. The conductor 212 is inserted into the electrical connector of FIG. 2 such that the front end of the dielectrical member 216 and outer conductor 218 abut the rearward facing shoulder 72 of the collet wedge assembly 62. In this position, the inner conductor 214 is inserted into the spring fingers 38, making electrical contact therein.

When the lock nut 182 is rotated so as to be further inserted into the main housing 14, the front surface thereof forces the flange 158 and, in turn, the member 152 forward. Forward movement causes the compression member 142 to move forwardly and, in turn, moves the housing bushing 122 in a forward direction. Movement of the housing bushing 122 forces the split locking member 104 into the bushing 94. Due to the movementof the tapered surfaces 114 and 98, with respect to each other, threaded surface 108 of the lock member is secured to the outer conductor 218 of the cable, as shown in FIG. 3. Further movement of the locking nut causes the bushing 94 to expand slightly and then move forwardly, causing the wedge assembly 62 to contract due to the interaction of its outer surfaces 76 and the tapered surface 56 of the housing. When the wedge assembly contracts, the bushing 82 is locked to the inner conductor 214.

Thus, the brass bushing 82 forms a mechanical interlock with the inner conductor 214, while the locking member 104 is simultaneously secured to the outer conductor. Moreover, the sleeve members 166 are compressed inwardly by means of the contracting spring 174, thus forming a second ground connection between the housing and the outer conductor. This connection forms a radiation shield to prevent leakage of RF energy from the rear of the conductor and supplement the locking member 104 which may fail after a period of time.

Moreover, it should be understood that the front body 16 together with the feed-through contact 28 could be eliminated and the inner conductor 214 connected directly to electrical equipment.

What is claimed is:

1. A coaxial cable connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of a cable to the connector comprising:

a connector housing carrying a central contact member receiving the forward end of said inner conductor and having a forwardly-tapered inner surface behind said contact member;

a radially deformable inner conductor seizing member formed of an insulating material and positioned entirely behind said contact member and adjacent to said surface;

means for applying an axial force to said inner conductor seizing member causing said seizing member to contract and become locked to said inner conductor behind said contact member; and

an outer conductor seizing means engageable with said outer conductor.

2. A coaxial connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner conductor seizing member is longitudinally split along the connector axis.

3. A coaxial connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer conductor seizing means comprises a second radially deformable member, and said means for applying an axial force also causes said second member to contract radially and become locked to said outer conductor.

4. A coaxial connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of a cable to a connector comprising: a deformable inner conductor seizing member and a separate deformable outer conductor seizing member mounted in a connector housing in axially spaced relation; means for applying an axial force to both of said seizing members and cause said seizing members to deform and secure said inner conductor seizing member and said outer conductor seizing members to said inner conductor and said outer conductor, respectively; and grounding spring means for preventing radio frequency leakage from said connector member mounted in said connector housing, said grounding spring means being biased radially inwardly to electrically connect said outer conductor to said connector housing. 5. An electrical connector member in accordance with claim 4 wherein said grounding spring means includes a plurality of spring fingers and means for biasing said spring fingers inwardly toward said outer conductor.

6. A coaxial cable connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of the cable to the connector comprising:

a connector housing carrying a central contact member receiving the forward end of said inner conductor and having a forwardly-tapered inner surface behind said contact member;

a radially deformable inner conductor seizing member formed of an insulating material and positioned entirely behind said contact member and adjacent to said surface, said seizing member including a metallic bushing therein, said bushing inner surface being threaded for securing said bushing to said inner conductor; and

means for applying an axial force to said seizing member causing said seizing member to contract and become locked to said inner conductor behind said contact member. 

1. A coaxial cable connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of a cable to the connector comprising: a connector housing carrying a central contact member receiving the forward end of said inner conductor and having a forwardlytapered inner surface behind said contact member; a radially deformable inner conductor seizing member formed of an insulating material and positioned entirely behind said contact member and adjacent to said surface; means for applying an axial force to said inner conductor seizing member causing said seizing member to contract and become locked to said inner conductor behind said contact member; and an outer conductor seizing means engageable with said outer conductor.
 2. A coaxial connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner conductor seizing member is longitudinally split along the connector axis.
 3. A coaxial connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer conductor seizing means comprises a second radially deformable member, and said means for applying an axial force also causes said second member to contract radially and become locked to said outer conductor.
 4. A coaxial connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of a cable to a connector comprising: a deformable inner conductor seizing member and a separate deformable outer conductor seizing member mounted in a connector housing in axially spaced relation; means for applying an axial force to both of said seizing members and cause said seizing members to deform and secure said inner conductor seizing member and said outer conductor seizing members to said inner conductor and said outer conductor, respectively; and grounding spring means for preventing radio frequency leakage from said connector member mounted in said connector housing, said grounding spring means being biased radially inwardly to electrically connect said outer conductor to said connector housing.
 5. An electrical connector member in accordance with claim 4 wherein said grounding spring means includes a plurality of spring fingers and means for biasing said spring fingers inwardly toward said outer conductor.
 6. A coaxial cable connector for securing the inner and outer conductors of the cable to the connector comprising: a connector housing carrying a central contact member receiving the forward end of said inner conductor and having a forwardly-tapered inner surface behind said contact member; a radially deformable inner conductor seizing member formed of an insulating materIal and positioned entirely behind said contact member and adjacent to said surface, said seizing member including a metallic bushing therein, said bushing inner surface being threaded for securing said bushing to said inner conductor; and means for applying an axial force to said seizing member causing said seizing member to contract and become locked to said inner conductor behind said contact member. 